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  • Imaging Case Report
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Congenital anterior urethral valves: imaging diagnosis and management

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 726–728 (2014)Cite this article

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AUVs are a rare cause of obstructive uropathy in children and are seven times less frequent than the more commonly known entity of PUV.1 PUVs account for the majority of lower urinary tract obstructions in children. However, because AUVs are so rare, their detection is more commonly missed as a cause of lower urinary tract obstruction, which can result in renal failure. VCUG remains the gold standard in diagnosing AUV.

The presentation of AUVs is variable and depends on the degree of obstruction and age of the patient.2 It can be a delayed diagnosis, and may even present as late as adulthood.3 Dribbling of urine, poor urinary stream, and UTI or urosepsis are the more common features at presentation. Rarely, a penile mass may be associated, which represents the dilated proximal urethra or diverticulum. VCUG remains the imaging gold standard in diagnosing AUV, although longitudinal transpenile ultrasound has been used to identify the valve tissue.4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA

    S G Farmakis, T E Herman & M J Siegel

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  1. S G Farmakis
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  2. T E Herman
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  3. M J Siegel
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Correspondence to S G Farmakis.

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Farmakis, S., Herman, T. & Siegel, M. Congenital anterior urethral valves: imaging diagnosis and management. J Perinatol 34, 726–728 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.84

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.84

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